We have been busy for the past couple of weeks but between non-existent or very limited internet service and my getting sick, AGAIN we have fallen behind in our blog.  Sorry.  Barb wrote this nice post and I’ve done the picture thing.  Enjoy.

Spence

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Day 2 Kaikoura started out grey and windy, with an invitation to go lobstering (or cray-fishing as they call it). Our cottage host invited Spencer and me, as well as two French guests, to join him in his small boat to check on the three lobster pots that he has. Apparently anyone (including non-residents) can put out 3 pots without any license, and can pull up 6 full size lobsters per day. There was a good chop and Spencer and I were glad to have our rain jackets on although the rest of Spencer got soaked by the spray and we were all pretty wet by the end of the trip. Graeme took us out between some rocks and pulled up the first pot. It must have had a dozen lobsters in it, a few looked like they were up to 2 lbs. He saved the biggest 6, after delineating for us the anatomical differences between the males and females and the different size requirements to keep each type. We then checked on the other two pots, again hauling up about 6 lobsters each, and he deftly sorted through the keepers and those to be returned to the sea for another day. He apparently goes out about 200 days per year, trailering his little boat in and out each day. I’ve never seen someone get a boat in and out of boat ramp area so quickly in my life – this guy was a pro! He motored us over to an outcropping where some seals were snoozing and into a lovely cove, before heading back to shore. It was a great experience, although I was certainly hoping he might donate a spare lobster or two. He can’t sell any of the them, so I have no idea what he does with 1000 lobsters a year!

 

Our hosts little boat.  5 of us went out in this thing.  It was a blast.  There is nothing like the salt spray on your face your jacket your pants and your socks.  🙂  We were pretty went when we got back but I loved it.

Video of our host pulling up the first pot.

After showering and warming up, we headed back down to the boat launch area, where we picked up a trail that heads up and around the cliffs of the peninsula. Much of it was walking through cow pasture overlooking the Pacific but midway through the walk, we could go down to beach level, where we ate some lunch while watching a big colony of red-billed gulls. Again, there were a number of nests and baby chicks, and a whole lot of squawking going on. Back up we went and around to the other side of the peninsula, to another seal viewing area. This one had lots of tourists and almost no seals, and those seals that were there seemed fast asleep or very bored with all of the tourists. So back we went up the cliff and around to the other side where we started.

red-billed gulls nesting area.  These are very noisiest birds.  Squawk, squawk, squawk.  It you expand the picture you might see a couple chicks.

A new chick with it’s proud parents.  🙂

This is just a nice view from the top of the cliff on our Kaikoura peninsula walk.

Day 3 was another day of early starts but this time for a whale watch. Kaikoura has really transformed itself into a summer tourist mecca, due to all of the marine life in the area. Our tour started with a short bus ride, with the bus filled to the max, to the boat launch. We went out for about half an hour before they started to look for whale spouts. There was another tour boat out looking and a helicopter and plane flying overhead with tourists, looking for sperm whales. We found one and motored along side it as it went wherever it was going, before it finally dove down and disappeared. We then stopped to watch a number of albatross and I managed to get a good video of one trying to run itself into the air. They are very big birds and they need a running start to get airborne. Then came a pod of about 10 dusky dolphins who clearly liked hanging around the boat. They swam around and around, and a few put together a string of front flips for our cameras – a most impressive acrobatic show. They told us on the boat that they think that the big splash made upon re-entry scares the little fish down, where other dolphins are waiting for breakfast. Then off again to track the signal of another sperm whale. Again, we followed along side for about 10 minutes, before the whale decided to dive below viewing sight. So back to the harbor we went. It was a great show on all fronts. And it’s nice to see that communities are creating a strong economy by keeping all of these wonderful animals protected and here for us to see.

The main attraction.  A sperm whale diving.

Note a bad shot if I do say so myself.  🙂

Some of the side shows.  An albatross just taking off.  These are magnificent birds with the largest wing span of any living bird.  Ranging from 8 and 11 feet.

Great video Barb took of an albatross taking off.

They are so very graceful.  Look at that lower wing tip.  It’s microns above the waves.

A pod of dolphins put on quite a show.

Another one of Barbs great videos.

After doing a few errands, we then headed up to Mt. Fyfe, to a short 2 km loop hike. It started out in a VERY crowded cow pasture. It felt like Moses, but instead of parting the waters, we were parting doe-eyed cows. So after tramping through their pasture, we went over the fence to a lovely loop hike through a forest, over a suspension bridge, down and back out through the pasture. It started to rain as we got into the car. For dinner, Spencer went out and picked up some very excellent blue cod fish and chips, wrapped in paper and eaten out of hand at the little cottage. Next morning, we packed up and headed SW to Peel Forest.

The start of our 2 km loop hike.  Up over the fence on the right and straight through the herd.  Watch where you step.